An interview with Shiree Woodford, who is responsible for inside and outside traffic control and security at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

What do you do to prepare for Farm Show?

For the outside traffic control, we start our planning in March after Farm Show. There are several meetings with state police and all of our police throughout the area on what we can do better from last year.

What is your biggest challenge during Farm Show?

One of the biggest challenges of course is traffic control - trying to get all the cars in and making sure enough parking is available for getting in without a long wait time.

What is involved in day-to-day security during Farm Show?

With security, we have the state police here to help with outside traffic control and inside security. We have a security force here at the Farm Show keeping people safe, (and working on) building congestion with people and animals. It's really difficult because we have the animals here. We want to make sure people are safe passing the animals.

What happens when there is a lost child?

When people come, if I see a child not holding a parent's hand, I say, "Hold that child's hand." We do get a lot of lost children. We contact state police (and) our security. We're on our lookout for that child. If that child is lost, actually we don't lose a lot of children; it's children who can't find their parents. We'll get them to the state police command post and hold them there. Security (will be) trying to make the child feel safe with us. We never, never announce a child's name as that child is missing. We'll use language like, "So and so, Danny's waiting for you at security desk." We don't want anybody to know that this child is missing.

You're the first woman to hold the post of security chief. How does that feel?

It feels wonderful. We have grown together here at Farm Show with my security staff, with the state police and local city police. It feels good. I've gained a lot of respect and we just work together. It's a team effort to get this and pull this off.

Do you have any fond Farm Show memories?

I'm a city girl so one of the things I do like to see and I always watch is the horse hitch. The horses are such beautiful animals. If you come, just make time to see that. I really like watching the hitches.

Do you have any tips for visiting Farm Show?

Just for parking: Be patient. We're going to get you in. Try to follow the direction of anyone who's out there (and) plan for a long wait time for parking or the shuttle bus. Just be patient, watch for animals, be safe around them and be safe around each other. That's it.

Anything else you'd like to add?

We do have EMTs, nurses and physicians here. We are prepared for safety of anything, (like) allergies. Just be prepared if you do have any of those symptoms. We do have people waiting to help and assist anyone.